What Affects Eye Witness Testimony?

A suspect with distinct features is more easily identified than an average person because distinct features make a person stand out and easier to remember. Average features, on the other hand, make a person blend in and become less memorable.

Eyewitness memory is not short term memory. It refers to the ability of an individual to recall events or details of a witnessed incident. It is a form of long-term memory that involves the encoding, storage, and retrieval of information over a prolonged period. Eyewitness memory can be influenced by various factors such as the passage of time, stress, and external influences, which can affect its accuracy. Therefore, the correct answer is long term memory.

An eyewitness is better able to identify a good looking person (compared with an ugly person) because they would look at a good looking person longer. This is because people tend to pay more attention to attractive individuals and are more likely to remember their features. This phenomenon, known as the "halo effect," suggests that our perception of someone's physical attractiveness can influence our overall impression of them and our memory of their appearance. Therefore, an eyewitness is more likely to accurately identify a good looking person due to the increased attention and memory encoding associated with attractiveness.

One at a time (simultaneous)
Prevents comparison between suspects – avoids the “multiple choice test”.

Sequential (one at a time) are more accurate than simultaneous.
When both photo array and then lineup is used, this increases the chance of false identification because the witness is comparing the live lineup to their more recent memory -- the photo lineup and NOT the crime.

Sunglasses, a hood/hat, and a mask can all adversely affect the identification of a suspect as they can obscure the person's facial features and make it difficult for witnesses to accurately describe their appearance. Poor lighting can also make it challenging to see and identify a suspect properly. The sunny day, however, would not directly affect the identification of a suspect as it does not obstruct the visibility of the person's face.

Confidence in identification does not necessarily correlate with accuracy. A person may be confident in their identification but still be incorrect. Confidence can be influenced by various factors such as suggestion, stress, and personal biases. Therefore, a person who is confident in their identification is not necessarily more accurate.